Crystal structure of plant asparaginase

In plants, specialized enzymes are required to catalyze the release of ammonia from asparagine, which is the main nitrogen-relocation molecule in these organisms. In addition, K+-independent plant asparaginases are also active in splitting the aberrant isoaspartyl peptide bonds, which makes these proteins important for seed viability and germination. Here, we present the crystal structure of potassium-independent L-asparaginase from yellow lupine (LlA) and confirm the classification of this group of enzymes in the family of Ntn-hydrolases. The alpha- and beta-subunits that form the mature (alphabeta)2 enzyme arise from autoproteolytic cleavage of two copies of a precursor protein. In common with other Ntn-hydrolases, the (alphabeta) heterodimer has a sandwich-like fold with two beta-sheets flanked by two layers of alpha-helices (alphabetabetaalpha). The nucleophilic Thr193 residue, which is liberated in the autocatalytic event at the N terminus of subunit beta, is part of an active site that is similar to that observed in a homologous bacterial enzyme. An unusual sodium-binding loop of the bacterial protein, necessary for proper positioning of all components of the active site, shows strictly conserved conformation and metal coordination in the plant enzyme. A chloride anion complexed in the LlA structure marks the position of the alpha-carboxylate group of the L-aspartyl substrate/product moiety. Detailed analysis of the active site suggests why the plant enzyme hydrolyzes asparagine and its beta-peptides but is inactive towards substrates accepted by similar Ntn-hydrolases, such as taspase1, an enzyme implicated in some human leukemias. Structural comparisons of LlA and taspase1 provide interesting insights into the role of small inorganic ions in the latter enzyme.     

Preparation and characteristics of microcapsules containing asparaginase

Conditions for the preparation of microcapsules containing asparaginase by interfacial polymerization were investigated. The activity of microcapsules prepared under the optimal conditions was about 37% compared with that of native asparaginase. Particle size of microcapsules could be controlled by determining the stirring rate and concentration of Span 85. The membranes of microcapsules were resistant to mechanical shock or attack of chymotrypsin, and no leakage of asparaginase from microcapsules was observed.     

Sequence analysis of enzymes with asparaginase activity

Asparaginases catalyze the hydrolysis of asparagine to aspartic acid and ammonia. Enzymes with asparaginase activity play an important role both in the metabolism of all living organisms as well as in pharmacology. The main goal of this paper is to attempt a classification of all known enzymes with asparaginase activity, based on their amino acid sequences. Some possible phylogenetic consequences are also discussed using dendrograms and structural information derived from crystallographic studies.     

Biochemical and pathophysiological characterization of Helicobacter pylori asparaginase

Asparaginase was purified from Helicobacter pylori 26695 and its pathophysiological role explored. The K(m) value of asparagine was 9.75 ± 1.81 μM at pH 7.0, and the optimum pH range was broad and around a neutral pH. H. pylori asparaginase converted extracellular asparagine to aspartate. H. pylori cells were unable to take up extracellular asparagine directly. Instead, aspartate produced by the action of the asparaginase was transported into H. pylori cells, where it was partially converted to β-alanine. Asparaginase exhibited striking cytotoxic activity against histiocytic lymphoma cell line U937 cells via asparagine deprivation. The cytotoxic activity of live H. pylori cells against U937 cells was significantly diminished by deletion of the asparaginase gene, indicating that asparaginase functions as a cytotoxic agent of the bacterium. The cytotoxic effect was negligible for gastric epithelial cell line AGS cells, suggesting that the effect differs across host cell types. An asparaginase-deficient mutant strain was significantly less capable of colonizing Mongolian gerbils. Since asparagine depletion by exogenous asparaginase has been shown to suppress lymphocyte proliferation in vivo, the present results suggest that H. pylori asparaginase may be involved in inhibition of normal lymphocyte function at the gastric niche, allowing H. pylori to evade the host immune system.     

Diurnal variation of asparaginase in developing pea leaves

Levels of asparaginase activity from developing pea leaves (Pisum sativum) were found to change on a daily basis, increasing during the light period and decreasing in the dark. During extended periods of light, high levels of activity were maintained, while prolonged dark reduced activity to a low value. Half-expanded leaves exhibited the greatest change in activity over the photoperiod. Very young or mature leaves displayed little or no diurnal variation in asparaginase activity.     

氧载体对L—天冬酰胺酶发酵过程影响的研究

以抗癌药物Ｌ天冬酰胺酶生产为应用背景,针对发酵过程中存在严重耗氧问题,研究了氧载体对发酵过程的影响。通过对几种氧载体的筛选,认为正十二烷最适合于该发酵过程。随后以产物Ｌ天冬酰胺酶活性、菌体浓度以及溶氧水平为主要指标,考察了氧载体在发酵过程中的作用,实验表明,发酵基质中５％正十二烷的添加量为最佳浓度,这种氧载体的加入,明显地提高了发酵介质中的溶氧水平,改善了供氧条件,增加了菌体浓度,提高了Ｌ天冬酰胺酶发酵水平,在优化条件下,可使发酵液最终酶活提高２１％左右     

Proteolysis and the diurnal decrease of asparaginase activity

The mechanism responsible for the decrease in asparaginase (EC 3.5.1.1) activity in darkened leaves of Pisum sativum L. cv. Little Marvel was investigated. Asparaginase activity, obtained from half-expanded leaves harvested at the end of the dark period, or during the light periods, was inactivated by bromelain (EC 3.4.22.4), ficin (EC 3.4.22.3), both thiol proteases, and trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4), a serine protease. Thrombin (EC 3.4.21.5), pepsin (EC 3.4.23.1), or carboxypeptidase A (EC 3.4.17.1) had no effect on dark- or light-harvested asparaginase preparations. Inactivation of asparaginase activity in crude or purified preparations by ficin was not observed in the presence of leupeptin (an inhibitor of thiol proteases). Supplying leupeptin to detached half-expanded leaves had no effect on the increase of asparaginase observed at the start of the light period, while it maintained asparaginase activity at high levels in leaves excised during or at the end of the light period. These results suggest that decreased asparaginase activity in vivo is brought about by thiol-dependent proteases.     

Nitrogen catabolite repression of asparaginase II in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A new procedure was devised for selecting, from lac+ galE strains of Escherichia coli, mutants resistant to galactoside-induced lysis. When applied to trp-lac fusions, our method yields down mutations in the trp promoter.